Man accused in gun-pointing

COLLEGE PLACE — A College Place man was arrested Wednesday after pointing a gun at other men in the Walmart parking lot, police said.

City police arrested Larry E. Hoy Jr. of 852 Brickner Road on investigation of first-degree assault and a weapons charge after Hoy allegedly pointed a semiautomatic pistol at two other men during a confrontation.

Officer Monte Vories, in documents filed in court this morning, reported he was at Walmart to apprehend a suspected shoplifter when a woman ran into the store saying “there’s a man with a gun.”

Vories ran outside as more people came into the store to report a man with a weapon in the parking lot, according to the court documents.

“I heard ‘gun’ over and over again,” Vories reported.

Vories spotted two men standing in the parking lot east of the store entrance, and a car leaving the parking lot via the north exit. Vories approached the two men, identified as Paul Leseman and Andy Wade, who had confronted Hoy over a disagreement about money the men claim Hoy owes them.

Wade apparently approached the Lincoln Town Car Hoy was driving and made a rude gesture at Hoy, according to court documents. Wade told police Hoy pointed a black, semiautomatic pistol at Wade and Leseman before driving off. Wade also told police Leseman had picked up a tire iron, but set it down at that point during the confrontation.

Witnesses provided police with a license plate number for Hoy’s vehicle, and Wade also noted Hoy’s girlfriend was in the vehicle with him. Police tracked Hoy to his girlfriend’s apartment on Woodland Avenue in Walla Walla.

Police found a pistol locked in a box in the trunk of Hoy’s car. Hoy was charged this morning with first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Donald W. Schacht set bail at $100,000.

The mentality of some never ceases to amaze me. If they had broken into his home, and burgled it...shooting them would have been understandable; however pulling a gun in a crowded parking lot is a bit different. I guess everyone should keep that in mind. Stay out of homes that you have not been inviteinto, and for the sake of all that is holy...if it isn't yours, keep your hands off of it.